​It's the start of a new quarter, so it's time to see how I did meeting the goals for last quarter and state those for the spring.

The first quarter of 2017 was something of a mixed bag, as usual. Some goals were easily met. Others were failed. So let's get into it.

First Quarter Goals

1. Finish the TIP rough. - Half Fail

As you can see from the ticker to the right, I didn't make this one. I got a whole lot closer, but I still have about ten chapters to go. I'm pretty sure that ticker will hit at least 85K by the time it's done. That's good though, because it gives me plenty of room to make cuts where needed, especially in the early chapters.

2. Do prewrites on the second Yekara novel. - Half Fail

Here's another one where I didn't finish, but I did at least get a good start. On a trip out of state a few weeks back, I went back through the first novel to refresh myself on what happened and take notes. The prewriting still needs a lot of work, but it's started and being added to now and again.

3. Lose an inch. - Half and Half

I'm not entirely sure what to put here. I mean, my weight on the scale has only gone down a couple pounds, and my waist measurement is pretty much the same. But I lost an inch from both my hips and thighs. Progress is progress though, right?

4. Plant spring garden. - Done

We planted one. It got killed by an ill timed freeze while we were out-of-state and therefore unable to cover the sprouts, but we had it planted on time.

5. Book two shows. - Failed

I've come to the depressing conclusion that this just isn't going to happen. C. L.'s car died on us a few months back, and his school doesn't really do the substitute teacher thing for any reason. So I can't work any shows that'd require traveling on a weekday because he needs the car to get to and from work. Almost thirty miles, one way, is a bit much to walk, and there's no public transportation stops within at least fifteen miles of our house. So, until we can replace his car, I think I'm going to be confined to two or three shows a year within a fifty mile radius.

6. Brainstorm the 2017 soap and fragrance lines. - Done

I handled brainstorming a couple weeks back. Work on them will begin once I'm over the cold I came down with a few days back and finish the last little bit of restocking I couldn't get to before getting sick.

7. Finish the paintings. - Failed

To be honest, I never even picked up the brushes. I've been too busy tweaking the stores' websites and trying to finish drafting Icarus. Last Sunday, I did decide to get over it and start allowing myself to do other things sometimes too, such as resuming the sewing lessons I'd also stopped several months back. So, I may get back to them once I'm sure I'll remember how to at least thread the sewing machine without needing daily practice anymore.

8. Finish the granny ripple blanket. - Done

Here's another one I finished. I'm super happy with how it turned out too, even if it did turn out way bigger than expected.

Second Quarter Goals

1. Finish Icarus rough draft.

I may actually stand a chance this time. Honestly, there's a big project that might take up a huge chunk of time over the next four or five months, if it comes to fruition. It's kind of up in the air now with nothing certain, but either way, I'll be writing as much as I can.

2. Work on Myth and Science prewrites.

This may sound a bit counterintuitive considering I have a Yekara novel that needs writing after Icarus, but I am planning on releasing short story collections between each novel release going forward. And the flash fictions serve as a type of prewriting in and of themselves. As I write each one, I'm building the bigger story, and I keep getting ideas for stories in between the flash fics. The first Myth and Science collection will combine the flash fics with these bigger short stories in a chronological format, although there will probably still be gaps of a few centuries in there considering the flash fics take place across 1200 years or so.

3. Lose an inch.

Okay, so I still have a long way to go before I'm back to anything approaching a healthy weight. This one will pretty much always be on here for the next year or three.

4. Plant a summer garden.

We at least want to grow some tomatoes, peppers, and peas.

5. Try sewing dresses the girls could wear to church.

As I mentioned above, I've been trying to learn how to sew. If you follow my Instagram, you already know I've been busy with it, making pillows, a rice filled heating pad, and a play dress for my youngest.

Believe me when I say that dress looks better in the photo than it does in person. I mean it fits, and she's happy with it because she loves bright colors and how soft the material is. But a lot of the stitching is wonky, and the shape of the sleeves makes her look like she's wearing really bad shoulder pads a la 80's women's power suits. I want to make them something I'd feel okay sending them to church or some other nice event wearing.

6. Make the 2017 new lines.

Con Kasterborous is coming up June 10-11, so I'm going to be up a creek if I haven't finished making the new soaps and perfumes by June 1!

7. Build a new show display.

The shelves I've been using for conventions and shows for the past three years are getting rickety and far too small to handle the forty-two scents I have now. Even after cutting seven fragrances for the 2017 lineup, once the new nine are added, Contented Comfort will be carrying fifty scents, not counting seasonals and holiday specials. We need some new, heavy duty but still portable shelves to carry to conventions.

Thankfully, I have a father-in-law who is handy and willing to teach me how to build something like this without lobbing a finger off or something.

8. Finish the skittles blanket.

As soon as I finished the granny ripple blanket above, I started work on another blanket using a bunch of yarn in a variety of colors I had left over from several other projects. The colors reminded me of certain skittles varieties, so I dubbed it the skittles blanket. It's not done yet, and I want to get all five pattern repeats done before June.

Actually, I would like to get this one done and another "stash buster" blanket finished before the beginning of June, but let's be realistic here.